How we manage Rye Bay

The area is managed by the Rye Bay Countryside Office. We work closely with local authorities, parish councils and conservation groups to protect and enhance the natural beauty of the area and improve public access to the countryside. They also publish information promoting the area.

Rye Bay Countryside Office

The Rye Bay Countryside Office is part of the county council’s Rights of Way and Countryside Management Group. The office is in Rye and is run by a countryside officer and a ranger. It is not always staffed, so please contact us if you want to see a member of staff:

Rye Bay Countryside Office
111B High Street
Rye TN31 7JF

Phone: 01797 226488
Fax: 01797 223753
Email: rangers@ryebay.demon.co.uk

What we do

We are responsible for:

• the land at Camber Sands
• conservation management of the sand dune system and Johnson’s Field, and management of Broomhill Sands car park
• providing a countryside management service to parish councils and landowners. (This service covers 20 parishes in the Rye Bay and Eastern High Weald AONB.)
• managing and promoting long distance trails, eg 1066 Country Walk, Royal Military Canal Path, High Weald Landscape Trail, Saxon Shore Way and Sussex Border Path
• managing a trainee ranger scheme in partnership with Plumpton Agricultural College which allows unemployed people to gain experience and an NVQ level 2 in Wildlife Conservation.
• promoting the Rye Bay and Eastern High Weald AONB
• providing a programme of guided walks and bike rides and producing a series of walks leaflets
• developing sustainable green tourism
• working with other local authorities and organisations to develop projects and best practice for tourism in the area.

Rights of Way

We work closely with the Rother area Rights of Way Officer to maintain and promote rights of way. This includes improving access to the countryside in the many parishes the office covers.

Our work involves way-marking, vegetation clearance and the maintenance and installation of countryside furniture. We promote routes through a series of guided walks and cycle rides that take place throughout the year.

For more information see Exploring East Sussex and Cycling East Sussex.

Camber Sands

We work in partnership with Rother District Council and the Environment Agency to manage the sand dune system which acts as a natural flood defence and is an important site for nature conservation.

We promote the sand dunes through leaflets, display boards and guided walks. Find out more about Camber Sands and our Sand Dune Management Plan.